Defense Acquisitions

Military and defense organizations are a vital component to any nation. In order to maintain the standards of these sectors, new procedures and practices must be implemented. Emerging Strategies in Defense Acquisitions and Military Procurement is a pivotal reference source for the latest scholarly research on the present state of defense organizations, examining reforms and solutions necessary to overcome current limitations and make vast improvements to their infrastructure. Highlighting methodologies and theoretical foundations that promote more effective practices in defense acquisition, this book is ideally designed for academicians, practitioners, researchers, upper-level students, and professionals engaged in defense industries.

In June 2009, following the expenditure of close to $3 billion, the DoD terminated the Navy's VH-71 presidential helicopter acquisition program and contract because of cost growth, schedule delays, and projected system performance. The Presidential Helicopter VXX program is a successor Navy program to the terminated VH-71 program acquisition and has been initiated to develop aircraft to replace the current, aging presidential helicopter fleet. This report discusses: (1) major lessons learned from the terminated VH-71 program that should be applied to the follow-on VXX program; and (2) the current acquisition approach of the VXX program and sufficiency of the underlying acquisition plans. Illus. A print on demand report.

Includes observations on the performance of DoD's 2010 portfolio of 98 major defense acquisition programs; data on selected factors that can affect program outcomes; an assessment of the knowledge attained by key junctures in the acquisition process for a subset of 40 programs; and observations on the implementation of acquisition reforms. To conduct this review, the auditor analyzed cost, schedule, and quantity data and collected data from program offices on performance requirements and software development; technology, design, and manufacturing knowledge; and the implementation of DoD's acquisition policy and acquisition reforms. He also compiled assessments of 71 weapon programs. Charts and tables. This is a print on demand report.

This review includes the feasibility and advisability of: (1) estab. a process in which the commanders of combatant commands provide input on the capabilities needed to accomplish their missions over 15 years or more; (2) estab. a materiel solutions process for addressing identified gaps in critical warfighting capabilities; (3) revising the acquisition process by estab. shorter, more frequent acquisition program milestones; (4) requiring the milestone decision authority to specify the period of time that will be required to deliver an initial operational capability; (5) estab. a new office to provide independent cost and performance est.; (6) requiring certifications of program status; and (7) modifying the role played by the Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces. Illus.

The DoD is the fed. government¿s largest purchaser of contractor-provided services, obligating more than $207 billion in FY 2009. The Nat. Defense Author. Act for FY 2008 directed DoD to issue guidance providing for independent management reviews for services acquisitions. The Act required that the guidance provide a means to evaluate specific contracting issues. This report: (1) assessed the extent to which DoD¿s guidance addressed the Act¿s requirements and how the guidance was implemented; and (2) determined the status of actions taken by the military departments pursuant to DoD¿s guidance. The report obtained data on the number of reviews conducted as of Sept. 2009; and analyzed memoranda of 29 acquisitions valued at over $1 billion.

Assesses the annual progress the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) made in developing and fielding the Ballistic Missile Defense System. Also assessed MDA's progress toward improving accountability and transparency in agency operations, mgmt. processes, and its acquisition strategy. To accomplish this, the auditor reviewed asset fielding schedules, test plans and reports, as well as pertinent sections of DoD policy to compare MDA's current level of accountability with that of other DoD programs. The FY 2009 assessment of MDA's cost, schedule, and performance progress is more limited than previous assessments because MDA removed key components of schedule and performance goals from its annual report of goals.

The proliferation of sophisticated anti-ship cruise missiles (ACM) threatens the ability of Navy ships to operate and survive close to hostile shores. The Navy directed a review of ship self-defense requirements. That study identified the capabilities needed by each ship class to defend against ACM threats. Since then, the Navy has spent $3.8 bill. to improve its ship self-defense capabilities against cruise missile attacks, and it plans to spend another $5 bill. over the next 6 years. Assesses the Navy's progress in improving the self-defense capability of surface ships against ACM; and evaluates Navy plans for meeting future ACM self-defense requirements.

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has spent about $56 billion and will spend about $50 billion more through 2013 to develop a Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). This report assesses the annual progress MDA made in developing the BMDS as well as improvements in accountability and transparency in agency operations, and management processes. To accomplish this, Francis reviewed contractor cost, schedule, and performance; tests completed; and the assets fielded during 2008. He also reviewed pertinent sections of the acquisition policy, and the activities of the new Missile Defense Exec. Board. Includes the effect the cancellation of a Ground-based Midcourse Defense flight test had on BMDS development. Includes recommend. Ill.